NameCensus.

UK surname

Dunnett

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a location named Dunnett.

In the 1881 census there were 911 people recorded with the Dunnett surname, ranking it #4,206 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,652, ranked #3,773, up from #4,206 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wick and Clopton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Thurso West and Wick South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Dunnett is 1,745 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.3%.

1881 census count

911

Ranked #4,206

Modern count

1,652

2016, ranked #3,773

Peak year

1998

1,745 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Dunnett had 911 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,206 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,652 in 2016, ranked #3,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,359 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Dunnett surname distribution map

The map shows where the Dunnett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Dunnett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Dunnett over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 465 #5,332
1861 historical 523 #5,015
1881 historical 911 #4,206
1891 historical 1,080 #3,903
1901 historical 1,359 #3,694
1911 historical 1,300 #3,667
1997 modern 1,674 #3,554
1998 modern 1,745 #3,557
1999 modern 1,731 #3,603
2000 modern 1,692 #3,660
2001 modern 1,652 #3,660
2002 modern 1,669 #3,701
2003 modern 1,635 #3,694
2004 modern 1,644 #3,682
2005 modern 1,621 #3,694
2006 modern 1,601 #3,731
2007 modern 1,605 #3,759
2008 modern 1,601 #3,791
2009 modern 1,650 #3,781
2010 modern 1,641 #3,869
2011 modern 1,620 #3,875
2012 modern 1,641 #3,752
2013 modern 1,675 #3,750
2014 modern 1,664 #3,800
2015 modern 1,654 #3,781
2016 modern 1,652 #3,773

Geography

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Where Dunnetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wick, Clopton and Woodbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Thurso West, Wick South, Caithness North West and Alness. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 Wick Caithness
3 Clopton Suffolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Woodbridge Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Thurso West Highland
3 Wick South Highland
4 Caithness North West Highland
5 Alness Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Dunnett

These lists show first names that appear often with the Dunnett surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Dunnett

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Dunnett, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Dunnett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Dunnett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Dunnett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Dunnett is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Dunnett falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Dunnett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Dunnett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Dunnett

The surname Dunnett is of Scottish origin, with its earliest known roots tracing back to the medieval era in the Lowlands region of Scotland. The name is believed to derive from the Scots Gaelic word "dùn" meaning a hill or fortified place, combined with a diminutive suffix "-et" or "-ett," suggesting a small hill or fort.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Dunnett surname appears in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rendered to King Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. The rolls list an individual named William Dunnett, who likely hailed from a locality bearing a similar name, though the exact place of origin is uncertain.

During the 16th century, the Dunnett surname can be found in various records, particularly in the counties of Fife and Angus. One notable bearer was John Dunnett, a merchant and burgess of Dundee, who was granted a coat of arms by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1592.

In the 17th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of Sir Alexander Dunnett (1619-1679), a Scottish advocate and judge who served as Lord Clerk Register of Scotland. His descendants continued to hold prominent positions in Scottish society for generations.

Another notable figure was Sir James Dunnett (1756-1832), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

The name Dunnett also appears in literary works, such as the historical novels of Dorothy Dunnett (1923-2001), a Scottish novelist renowned for her series of novels set in various periods of history, including the House of Niccolo and The Lymond Chronicles.

While the surname Dunnett has Scottish roots, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, with bearers of the name found in various countries around the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Dunnett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Dunnett surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Suffolk leads with 312 Dunnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.86x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 312 28.86x
Norfolk 97 7.11x
Caithness 96 78.99x
Middlesex 89 1.00x
Kent 53 1.75x
Essex 41 2.34x
Surrey 39 0.90x
Midlothian 23 1.93x
Lancashire 19 0.18x
Staffordshire 18 0.60x
Yorkshire 17 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 11 1.96x
Ayrshire 8 1.20x
Oxfordshire 7 1.28x
Leicestershire 6 0.61x
Northumberland 6 0.45x
Orkney 6 6.14x
Worcestershire 6 0.52x
Fife 5 0.95x
Gloucestershire 5 0.29x
Somerset 5 0.35x
Derbyshire 4 0.29x
Northamptonshire 4 0.48x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.36x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Lincolnshire 3 0.21x
Sussex 3 0.20x
Cornwall 2 0.20x
Durham 2 0.08x
Renfrewshire 2 0.29x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.36x
Devon 1 0.05x
East Lothian 1 0.85x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.25x
Roxburghshire 1 0.62x
Royal Navy 1 0.95x
Stirlingshire 1 0.31x
Westmorland 1 0.51x
Wiltshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wick in Caithness leads with 41 Dunnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.43x.

Place Total Index
Wick 41 104.43x
Clopton 36 3103.45x
Bower 35 714.29x
Deptford St Paul 29 12.41x
Bawdsey 20 1526.72x
Besthorpe 18 1216.22x
Hoxne 17 553.75x
Lowestoft 17 33.28x
St Pancras London 15 2.10x
Woodbridge 15 108.54x
Watton 14 326.34x
Canisbay 13 162.91x
Ipswich St Margaret 13 35.43x
Camberwell 12 2.12x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 2.51x
Otley 12 621.76x
Gorleston 11 40.04x
Holbrook 11 464.14x
Playford 11 1506.85x
Cratfield 10 662.25x
Hasketon 10 680.27x
St George Hanover Square 10 6.39x
Woking 10 38.36x
Badingham 9 441.18x
Battersea 9 2.76x
Grundisburgh 9 360.00x
Upwell 9 218.45x
Ashford 8 27.12x
Batley 8 9.57x
Burgh 8 1025.64x
Clerkenwell London 8 3.82x
Liverpool 8 1.25x
Shotley 8 418.85x
South Mimms 8 65.74x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 7 69.79x
Kilmarnock 7 8.85x
Oulton 7 191.78x
Plumstead 7 6.93x
South Leith 7 5.23x
Uttoxeter 7 45.63x
Banbury 6 54.64x
Chediston 6 545.45x
Denver 6 236.22x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 6 240.96x
Fressingfield 6 171.92x
Heydon 6 909.09x
Kensington London 6 1.22x
Sedgley 6 5.39x
Attleborough 5 72.57x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 8.61x
Cannock 5 9.56x
Chelmondiston 5 190.11x
Colchester St Peter 5 71.33x
Crewkerne 5 32.96x
Dedham 5 94.16x
Elmswell 5 216.45x
Islington London 5 0.58x
Lambeth 5 0.65x
Methwold 5 113.12x
Northfield 5 22.74x
Norwich St Saviour 5 104.38x
Prittlewell 5 20.59x
South Ronaldshay 5 49.46x
St Luke London 5 3.51x
St Marylebone London 5 1.06x
Stow Upland 5 140.45x
Wenhaston 5 187.27x
Wivenhoe 5 71.84x
Bedlington 4 9.07x
Bromley London 4 2.05x
Burntisland 4 27.23x
Colchester St Martin 4 125.00x
Lawford 4 156.86x
Leicester St Margaret 4 1.67x
Lewisham 4 2.48x
Olrig 4 65.90x
Southchurch 4 246.91x
Toxteth Park 4 1.12x
Whitton 4 208.33x
Willesden 4 4.78x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Dunnett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 31
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 20
Eliza 15
Ellen 14
Emma 14
Ann 12
Alice 11
Emily 11
Jane 10
Charlotte 8
Ada 7
Florence 7
Hannah 7
Martha 7
Maria 6
Annie 5
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Jessie 5
Rose 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Louisa 4
Rosa 4
Susannah 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Clara 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Minnie 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Elizh. 2
Esther 2
Florance 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Burrdey 1
Elisabeth 1
Elisabth 1
Elisabth. 1
Hephzibah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Dunnett surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 56
John 40
George 27
Charles 21
James 19
Arthur 14
Robert 13
Frederick 12
Alfred 11
Henry 9
Joseph 9
Thomas 9
Walter 9
Edward 8
Albert 7
Ernest 6
Samuel 6
David 4
Edwin 4
Fredk. 4
Herbert 4
Earnest 3
Edgar 3
Harry 3
Horace 3
Mark 3
Wm. 3
Allen 2
Barnaby 2
Benjamin 2
Charley 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Levi 2
Obadiah 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Wltr. 2
Algernon 1
Burton 1
Donald 1
Horice 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Dunnett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Dunnett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 911 people were recorded with the Dunnett surname. That placed it at #4,206 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Dunnett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,652 in 2016. That gives Dunnett a modern rank of #3,773.

What does the Dunnett surname mean?

A Scottish habitational surname derived from a location named Dunnett.

What does the Dunnett map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Dunnett bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.